Vampires and Werewolves

ARAIA's P.O.V

"Give me the flower!" 

"I don't want to!" 

Vin and Xin are arguing over a flower.

"Here, you can use mine." 

I gave Vin the flower that I'm holding, he gladly accepted it and continued making a flower crown.

We’re now here at the backyard of their house, we’re making a flower crown for fun. 

“I didn’t know that you could do something like this using a flower!” Freya said. 

She’s doing great making a flower crown, so far, I noticed that Freya is smart. She caught up to the things around her easily and she can decide for her own, not like the other girls her age.

"Freya, how old are you?" 

"I'm 15.” 

She answered me while still doing her flower crown. 

She’s only 15? 

She’s quite mature for her age, to be honest. 

She acts like a seventeen year old girl although she tends to have these colorful hair clips around her head and she’s always in a ponytail. If you observe her inside the house, she’s a reliable sister to her two brothers. 

Her cheerful personality makes her look like she’s a child but her mature side makes her look like a girl that’s becoming an adult. 

“Why’d you ask?” 

“Nothing, how’s your crown?” 

“Look!” 

She showed me what she’s doing, it’s beautiful. 

“Wow! It’s so beautiful, Freya, you did great!” 

She’s so happy that I complimented her work, the same as the twins. 

“But what are you doing?” 

Vin asked me.

The other two looked at me curiously so I showed them what I was doing.

"It’s also a flower crown.” 

“But what are these?” Full of curiosity Xin asked.

“These are locks, so the flowers won’t fall off.”  

Their faces look amaze, what a funny reaction.

“But why do yours look amazing while ours doesn't?” Xin said while pouting.

What does he mean? 

I observe my flower crown, it’s just average looking. Oh! 

“Are you talking about the color combinations?” 

They look confused again. 

I explained to them what color combination is and gave them an example on how to combine colors. Later on, I helped them to create a flower crown while combining the colors so every flower will suit each other.

“Woah…”

“It looks completely different from before!” 

“That’s right, because color combinations are important also.” 

“You’re really great!” 

“Nah! I just know how to combine colors.” It’s no big deal. 

“No, you’re really great! You’re so smart sister Raia!” The twins said. 

Aw… 

“Well, thank you…” It’s kind of awkward to receive compliments as I’m not used to it but they’re so cute to just avoid it. 

I teach them some more and Xin seems like he’s really enjoying what we’re doing, he caught up faster than I thought. 

We continued playing until the snacks that Mui made arrived. 

“Take a break, kids.” 

The twins greet their mother while Freya and I prepare the carpet for the snacks we're going to eat here. 

“You’re smart…” 

Hmm?

I glanced at Freya, did she say something? 

“Pardon?” 

She’s looking at the snacks we’re preparing so I couldn’t see her face clearly. 

She didn’t answer me so I just continued preparing the snacks. 

I swear, I heard someone…

“It’s okay now!” Freya shouted after we’re done preparing the snacks on the carpet. 

“Yey!” 

The twins are happy while eating the snacks. 

It’s a sweet potato. It’s drying my throat but the snacks were accompanied by juice so it’s alright. Besides, this is the only snack that they’re making everyday so I don’t really have a choice. 

Should I tell them some snack recipes that I know? 

Maybe next time…

“Did you make this?” Mui asked me. She’s pertaining to the flower crown that I made. 

I nodded my head. 

“Wow, you’re so good at making these.” 

I can feel my cheeks burning from what she said. Why do I feel shy all of a sudden? 

“T-thank you…” 

Shoyo came to our direction, holding an ax, he must be cutting logs in the forest. 

“Hello everyone.” 

The twins came running to him.

“How’s my family?” 

“We’re good! We’re making flower crowns!” 

They boast about the flower crown we’re making. 

“Wow. These are wonderful, how’d you know how to do this?” He asked the twins. 

“Araia taught us!” 

Shoyo looks amazed by the flower crowns of his sons. He's so proud of them, I can tell. 

“You’re talented.” He said, now, looking at me. 

Again! 

“T-thank you.” 

Why are they so affectionate? I am not used to this! 

Just like before, when we’re eating, they’re so sweet to each other especially Mui and Shoyo, their family looks like they’re used to those sweetness but I am not! 

It’s awkward for me at first but then I eventually get used to it. 

I remember the first time I noticed them being affectionate to each other, I am so jealous because I haven’t experienced it before. 

My parents wouldn’t even dare look at me. I admire their family, I wish I had one. 

When it’s dinner time, hours passed like usual, we ate then spent the rest of our free time watching the sky. 

We’re now in the backyard, lying on the carpet in an open space while looking at the sky. 

“Do you know that there’s a star called sirius?” 

Vin looked at me. 

“What’s that?” 

“The star, there’s a star called sirius.” So, they don’t have an idea of Sirius.

“No, I mean, what is a star?”

“...”

Oh! They don’t know what a star is.

I point my finger to the sky, in which we can see a star. 

“Do you see those shining things up there?” 

Vin nodded. 

“Those are called stars.” 

“Oh…” 

“Yup, and there’s a star called Sirius, it’s the brightest star up there.”  

Although it’s what it is from Earth and I don’t know if we’re still on Earth, let’s just pretend that it’s also the brightest star here. 

“Wow, can you tell me more about it?” 

“Sure!” 

I told him what I know about constellations, he looked interested in it so I added some about the universe and such. 

Looks like Vin is the type of person who likes to talk about stars and such, while Xin is the artistic type. 

They’re so cute. 

I wish I had brothers like them…

MY DAYS passed like that. 

We’re playing when we have free time, I am helping the house and so far there’s no monsters attacking. 

“Raia, can I talk to you?” 

Elder asked me. 

I nodded my head in response. 

We went to the room where we talked last time and he asked me to sit. 

“Do you need anything Elder?” 

“Yes.” 

He showed me a map that’s made from cloth, or can you even call this a map? 

All I can see is a set of lines… It’s even brown, the same as the cloth but it’s much darker.

Elder points in a direction. 

“This is where we’re going to go to meet my friend.” 

My eyes widened, are we finally going to meet his friend?! 

“We’re going to go to his house?” 

He nodded. 

At last! I couldn’t contain my excitement because this is what I’ve been waiting for. 

“When are we going to go there?” 

“We’ll go there next week but I don’t think that I can accompany you.” 

Why not? 

“Why, Elder?” 

He told me that there would be an important meeting regarding the situation of this village and the recent monster attack and as he is one of the elders, he needs to be there. 

“Is that so…” 

Is it alright for me to travel alone? What if there’s monsters again and they attack me? I don’t even know basic self defense, and they’re much stronger than me! I’m just a human and they’re still wolves! 

“Isn’t it dangerous?” 

Elder sat on the chair across mine. 

“It is, but I will help you find someone who will accompany you when you travel.” 

Is it enough? Who could it be? What if that person finds out that I’m not a wolf and does something bad to me? 

I wouldn’t risk my safety, if I can go some other time, then I’ll just prefer that over this. 

“I can go some other time, Elder.” 

“Are you sure? You don’t have to worry about who’ll accompany you as I assure you that he is safe to be with.” 

“But what if that wolf found out that I’m not a wolf?” 

What will we do? It’s concerning since none of them would be by my side. I’m just feeling safe when I’m with them…

“I promise you that he won’t do anything bad to you, we can trust him, he’s my nephew and my right hand.” 

“...”

My trust issues can’t cope up…

“I don’t know Elder…” 

 I’m not really sure if I can relax if someone whom I don’t know will accompany me on my journey, and it’s a man. 

“Do you want to meet him first?” 

I am so concerned about it, so I think it’s really better if I meet him first. 

I agree with Elder Baster, he said that he would arrange a meeting for me and his nephew within these days. 

“Thank you for doing this.” 

I held Elder’s hand. I'm glad that he is helping me even though I’m not from this world. 

“Don’t worry about it, I want you to be with your family again so I’m helping you.” He tapped my head. 

Ha…

If only I had someone like them…

“I’ll teach you some things about what you should do when you travel.” 

“Okay.” 

Elder gave me ideas on what I should do and what I should remember to avoid being caught. 

While he is talking, I can already feel my hands sweating just by thinking that it isn’t impossible for me to face danger while traveling. 

“Can I ask you a question, Elder?” 

“Sure.” 

“I’m just really curious about this, do wolves have this special ability like they can smell someone’s blood like vampires?” 

I’m not really a fan of vampires and werewolves so I don’t know much about them, I just know the basics that they can transform, something like that. And I’m dying to know if they can smell blood because if they can, that would be the end of me… 

“What are vampires?” 

Elder asked. 

Oh yeah, I forgot that it’s only werewolves here. 

“Nevermind that Elder, but can you really smell blood?” 

Elder shook his head. 

“Ha…That’s great.” 

At least, they can’t smell blood, right? 

I will be doomed if they can smell blood. 

“How did you get the idea that we can smell blood?” 

Elder looked curious so I told him what I know. 

From what vampires are and what I know about wolves. Although my knowledge isn’t that great, he still wants to know what I know about them. 

“What imagination you got there…” 

Elder said. 

I'm quite embarrassed because I know that those are just stories, but of course, since those stories were passed down generation by generation I don't know anymore what is right and wrong. 

Also, I've believed in those stories since I'm a child. That's why I'm thinking like that. 

"It would be dangerous if werewolves could smell blood." Elder said.

"That's my thought too." 

We share the same opinion about it so I'm glad.

After we talked about important things, I helped Freya arrange logs in the underground. 

While we're working, Freya suddenly bumped my shoulder.

"Ouch!" 

Can't she see me? But it's not that dark here since we have three torches with fire. 

I look at my surroundings, I'm not blocking the way either.

"Oh, sorry." 

She continued arranging the logs after she said it.

What's wrong with her? Did I do something wrong?

She's not even looking at me when she apologizes. 

"Are you alright?" 

I'm concerned about her behavior, she isn't like this. Perhaps she's having difficulty with something?

"I'm okay." Lifeless, she answered.

Something's definitely wrong.